Posted 9/8/2012 6:36:21 PM by Don Covington
News from World Circus Federation press release viewed 43860 times
Tuesday, September 04, 2012 - Monte Carlo, Monaco
American photographers Jason and Justin Senft have captured the top prize in the circus photo contest sponsored by the Federation Mondial du Cirque for an unprecedented second year in a row.
The twin photographers will receive their prize from Princess Stephanie at next year's International Circus Festival in Monte Carlo.
America’s Senft Twins Capture Top Photography Prize for Second Time Monte-Carlo, Monaco (3 September 2012)
In a spectacular showing, Jason and Justin Senft, American artists and
identical twins have won "Best of Show" for an unprecedented second
time in the Fédération Mondiale du Cirque’s annual photography contest.
Jason and Justin Senft’s idyllic “Norman Rockwell- esque” photograph
features a talented circus elephant playfully painting a bright red
heart onto an artist’s canvas while a circus clown looks on with
amazement. The Senft’s winning image, which portrays the contest theme
“Circus: The Art of Happiness”, was selected by Federation Honorary
President H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of Monaco from twelve finalists
chosen by an international panel of judges.
On the heels
of winning the “Best of Show” photograph last year, Jason and Justin
were excited to take on the challenge of creatively featuring an
elephant in one of their photographs again this year. The concept for
their winning photograph was inspired by elephants in Thailand who are
trained to paint on canvas, each developing its own style. The
photograph, featuring Annette the elephant, was a cooperative effort
with elephant owners Franklyn and Gayle Murray, circus clown Luis
“Lucho” Carballo and Ian Garden Jr., performance director of Piccadilly
Circus.
“We are inspired by the rich visual history of the
circus, in particular, the traditional circus, under a canvas Big Top,”
say the Senfts, “and we hope to capture and convey the beauty and
excitement that happens when the circus comes to town.”
Jason
and Justin Senft demonstrate an incredible ability to capture magical
moments at the circus. This wonderful talent is evident in their three
additional winning photographs. Their second photograph captures circus
clown, Barry “Grandma” Lubin, flying around the ring of the Big Apple
Circus while holding seven-year-old Ethan Metzger, a delighted youngster
selected from the audience of "Dance On!” in New York. Taken at John
Ringling North II's Kelly Miller Circus, the Senft’s third photograph
features an elated five-year-old, Grania Greene, receiving a special
heart-shaped balloon from circus clown Steve Copeland. The photograph
evokes the essence of ringmaster John Moss' closing line of the show:
"The circus never leaves town if you keep it in your heart." The Senft’s
fourth photograph depicts the art of face painting, a popular
attraction on the circus midway. Circus performer, José Bermudez, paints
a smile on the face of nine-year-old Keyan as he admires his reflection
in a mirror before a performance.
Two other American
photographers also are among the winners. Amanda Stevens (Glen Rock, New
Jersey) captured seven year old Matthew Iverson dressed in the costume
of his father Jonathan Lee Iverson, Ringling Bros. and Barnum &
Bailey’s renowned Ringmaster. Sandy Weber (Highland Park, Illinois)
photographed Greg DeSanto, now Executive Director of the International
Clown Hall of Fame and Research Center in Baraboo, Wisconsin, in a
nostalgic visit to Ringling Bros.’ former winter quarters at Venice
Arena, Florida where he created and performed for 13 years.
European
photographers also placed well in this year’s contest. Bruno Maria
Campagna (Appiano Gentile, Italy), also a winner in the 2011
photography contest, features the artistic bicycle act from Cirque du
Soleil’s “Saltimbanco”, performed in Milan, Italy. Two German
photographers, Stefan Gierisch (Langen) and Stefan Nolte (Osthofen),
submitted winning images. Mr. Gierisch’s photo features Spanish clown
José Michel, performing a very lively water entree together with his
partners at La Grande Fête Lilloise du Cirque, in Lille, France. Mr.
Nolte captured world-famous Italian clown David Larible (dubbed “the
Clown of Clowns” by legendary New York critic Clive Barnes) in the ring
of Circus Roncalli of Germany in a moment of pure circus bliss.
The
winning photograph of Rudolf Árpád Kozsák, (Debrecen, Hungary) features
three unusual and whimsical clowns during “French cultural days” in
Budapest. Patrick Prévost (Olivet, France) submitted a winning shot of
the unbounded joy and talent of seventh-generation circus performer,
clown and daredevil Bello Nock at the 35th Festival International du
Cirque de Monte-Carlo, where Bello won the prestigious Golden Clown. The
final winner is Mr. Sanjoy Bhattacharya (Kalkata, India), who captured a
lighthearted encounter between a costumed horse and clown, bringing
laughter and appreciation to the audience during a “Mask Dance”
performance unique to India.
A total of 116 amateur and
professional photographers from 35 countries this year participated in
the contest. Entries were received from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Malaysia
and Thailand in Asia and Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Mexico in Latin
America. In Europe, photographers from Macedonia and Slovenia
participated for this first time. Numerous photos also were submitted by
contestants from India, Pakistan and Turkey.
The 2012
international jury comprised circus historians Greg Parkinson (USA),
Mark St. Leon (Australia), Julio Revolledo Cárdenas (Mexico), and
Charles Ricketts (South Africa).
The twelve winning images
will be exhibited in January 2013 during the 37th Festival
International du Cirque de Monte-Carlo. Wall calendars featuring the
winning photographs may be purchased at www.oaba.org for residents of
North America and in the Federation’s Boutique at
www.circusfederation.org for other world regions beginning in early
October 2012.
The Fédération Mondiale du Cirque was
founded in 2008 under the patronage of H.S.H. Princess Stephanie of
Monaco and is headquartered in Monte-Carlo. The Federation is a
non-profit organization created to promote Circus arts and culture
worldwide, to serve as a voice for the Circus community, and to
represent Circus interests at the international level.
For details, follow this link:
http://www.circusfederation.org/news?news_action=detail&news_detail_id=306&back_state=1
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